System for purifying, humidifying, and controlling the humidity of air.



W. H. CARRIER. SYSTEM FOR PURIFYING, HUMIDIFYING, AND CONTROLLING THE HUMIDITY OF AIR.

V APPLICATION FILED APE.23, 1908. 1,059,976. Patented Apr. 29, 1913.

I 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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W. H. CARRIER. SYSTEM FOR PURIFYING, HUMIDIFYING, AND CONTROLLING THE HUMIDITY OF AIR.

APPLICATION FILED APR.23. 1908. 1,059,976. Patented Apr. 29, 1913. 2 SHEETg-SHEET 2.

- ity of Air, of which the following is a speciable humidity in the room or building, and the entering air will then only be washed or UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIS H. CARRIER, OF B UF FALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO BUFFA LO FORGE COMPANY,-OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

SYSTEM FOR PURIFYI NG, HUMIDIFYING, AND CONTROLLING THE HUMIDITY CI E AIR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented A' r. 29, 1913.

Application filed April 23, 1908. Serial No. 428,859.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIS H CARRIER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented'a new and useful Improvement in Systems for Purifylng, Humidifying, and Controlling the Humidfication.

This invention relates to systems and apparatus for humidifying and controlling the humidity and'temperature of air, and is particularly desirable for ventilation in public buildings and in various lines of manufacture, such, for example, as silk mills and lithographing establishments, where excessive humidity is objectionable.

The primary object of the inyention is to produce a system for supplying purified air to a room, building or otherlinclosure, and controlling the addition of moisture thereto as may be required to give a desired condi-' tion of humidity, or for Washing the air Without increasing its humidity when the external air already has a great degree of humidity and this is necessary to prevent excessive humidity in the room or building.

This invention is in the nature of an im: provement in the system of humidifying and controlling the humidity and temperature of air disclosed in my application for U. S.

patent filed May 17,1907, Serial No. 374,215,

in which a differential thermostat is employed which is influenced by the air in the .room or building to be controlled and the saturated air supplied thereto from the humidifier for automatically maintaining a definite relation between the temperature of the dew point of the saturated air and the temperature of the air in the'room or build ing, whereby a desired relative humidity of the air in a room or building is preserved notwithstanding fluctuations of the temperature thereof. In this improved systeni means are provided for supplying water for humidifying the air and separate -means for washing the air without at all or materially increasing its humidity. The temperature of the air entering the humidifier is automatically regulated so as to govern the humidity of the air leaving the humidifier, as in the the temperature of the water used for humidifying the air, or by these actions conomtly, or in any other suit-able way, and in addition automatic means are provided which shut off the humidifying devices when the humidity of the external 'atmosphere is so high that the addition of moisture would produce an excessiveor undesircleansed without adding appreciably to its humidity.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets; F igu-re 1 is a diagrammatic plan view, partly. in section, of an air purifying and humidifying and humidity controlling apparatus embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the humidifier. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation, on an enlarged scale, of a Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of a few of the eliminator baflies or plates. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of an air washing device of slightly modified construction.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents a room, building orother inclosure (hereinafter termed a room) which is to be supplied with purified air, the .humidity and temperature of which is to be cont-rolled;'B an air trunk or casing having admission openings or passages b b,

respectively for external air and return air from the room, and C a fan or device 'for drawing the air through the trunk and discharging it into the room.

D represents humidifying devices for saturating the air in the humidifying chamber d of the air trunk with water, and E an air washer and drier for eliminatin the free water from the air together wit the solid impurities which are gathered and held by the water.

The humidifying devices, as in said application, preferably consist of numerous spray nozzles of the cyclone type which produce a very fine conical spray or mist, but they are preferably arranged to direct the spray in opposition to the current of air through the humidifier, that is, they discharge toward the air inlet to the humidifying chamber 03. By this arrangement the impact of the water with the air is increased, and the air tends to flatten out or spreadthe conelike sprays of water so that a very intimate -contact of all portions of the air with the water and the thoroughsaturation or huniidification of the air is secured.

The eliminator E is preferably the same as in said application and consists of a series of zigezag plates arranged vertically and spacedapart so as to form numerous sinuous or zigzag passage-ways between them for the air. The saturated air impinges against the oblique faces of the eliminator plates and the free water in the air collects on the plates and flows down them in thin films into a collecting well or basin 6 in the bottom of the humidifying chamber, and the transverse continuous slots f in its bottom through which the water flows from the tank in sheets between the eliminator plates.

" .These sheets of water, except for the air currents, would form thin walls of water across the spaces between the eliminator plates, but the air currents blow or deflect the sheets of water over against those oblique faces of the eliminator plates which are immediately in rear of the sheets of water so that such faces of the plates have solid films of water flowing down the same, and these films catch and remove the solid inpurities from the air impinging against them, and insure a very thorough cleansing or washing of the air. The water carried by the air from the spray nozzles sufliciently wets the first one or two oblique faces of the eliminator plates, but the spray water alone does not so thoroughly wet the succeeding oblique faces of the plates, and without the water from the flushing tank such succeeding faces of the plates are apt to become fouled by the impurities from the air. Excellent results are secured by providing the flushing tank with three slots arranged to discharge the sheets of water so as to wet three intermediate oblique faces of the plates,

but this particular number and arrangement of the slots is not absolutely essential.

G represents a low pressure centrifugal pump which takes the water from the well or basin e in the bottom of the humidifier and supplies it by a-pipe g to a water heater H, and G represents a high pressure centrifugal pump which takes the water from the heater by a pipe g and supplies it by duces uniform films of water on the surfaces of the plates, and an irregularity in the arrangement of the plates will not affect its action, whereas great exactness would be required in the arrangement of the plates if separate discharge openings for the plates were provided, and the cost of the slotted tank is much less.

I represents a baflie device which is located at the entrance of the humidifying chamber d of the air trunk and preferably consists of spaced upright bent or angular baflie plates which are arranged parallel with each other and relatively close together and offer sufficient resistance to the passage of air to distribute it throughout the cross area of the humidifying chamber. This device also serves to catch and prevent the escape of any large particles of water from the huinidifying chamber which may be projected from the spray nozzles with suflicient impetus to otherwise escape from the humidifying chamber. Any suitable device adapted to produce these results could be employed in place of the spaced bafile plates shown.

The air humidifying and drying means constructed as described have proven eminently eflicient in practice and are therefore preferred, but the regulating means about to be described are not restricted to use with any particular humidifying and drying de vices and any suitable means can be employed for these purposes.

K represents the differential thermostat for regulating the temperature of the saturated air leaving the humidifier. As shown, the thermostat projects into the discharge end of the humidifying chamber and one of "its elements is influenced by the saturated air therein, while its other element is influenced by air from the room A which is circulated past the thermostat by'pipes 7c is connecting the thermostatwith the room and with the intake of the fan C. The location-of the thermostat is not important'so long as itselements are influenced by the air of the room and the. saturated air of the humidifier.

The thermostat preferably controls the temperature of the saturatedair leaving the humidifier, by regulating a valve L in the steam supply pipe to the .water heater to govern the temperature of the spray water, and by regulatmgthe mixture of external air and return air from the room admitted to the himiidifying chamber, for instance, by means of a damper M adapted to open and close the external and return air inlet passages b b. The steam valve and damper can be actuated by diaphragms or motors 'l and m of wellknown construction operated by compressed air supplied thereto from a reservoir mf, or other source, through suitable pipes on. m which are controlled by a vali'e m actuated by the thermostat. The thermostat by the dlfierent-ial action of its elements will, throu h the described instrumentalities, adjust t e steam valve L of the water heater to raise or lower the temperature of the spray water and shift the damper M to alter the proportions of the external air and the return air from the room, depending u n the relative difference in temperature 0 the saturated air in the humidifier and the air in the,room.A,' and thus maintain a predetermined necessary relation between these temperatures. The thermostat may be of any suitable construction andmay regulate thetemperature of saturated air ad- I mitted to the room by the means described,

. A thermostat, adapted for this or by anyv other suitable instrument-alities. urpose is disclosed in U. S. Letters Patent 0. 902,713, granted to me November 3, 1908."

The differential thermostat K can thus regulate the temperature of the saturated air in the humidifier and mal external atmospheric conditions. If, however, the humidity of the external at mosphere is such as to give the desired humidity of the air in the room without the addition of further moisture, it becomes neces-' sary to shut off the spray water so as not to further increase the humidity ofrthe air and give the air in the room or buildin an excessive or undesirable degree of humidity To do this a humidistat N is located in the room A and controls a valve 0 in the supply to me August 18, 1908. This humidistat is adjusted so that it will not operate to close the valve 0 until the humidity in the room or building is excessive or greater than that which can be controlled by the differential thermostat K. This humidistat therefore does not conflict with or affect in any way the operation of the difierential thermostat.

When the spray water is cut off by the action of the humidistat N the low pressure .manner that the spra roduce a desired conditlon of hum1d1ty in t 1e room A under norpump will continue the supply of water to the flushing tank F for the eliminator, and the sheets of water flowing from the flushing tank and wetting the eliminator plates will cleanse the air of solid impurities, but will not add materially to the moisture contents,

of the air, because the air impingin against the solid films of'water on the eliminator plates does not produce such a'nintim'ate contact with the water as is necessary to increase its humidity. 'Thus the air will be purified.but-itshuni'idity will not be materially increased. As the heat transference.

between the water and air in the eliminator is slight when the sprays are shut off, it is possible to maintain the tem erature of the ranged as described is very eflicient for the purpose stated, but other means could be employed for flushing the eliminator plates. For example, in Fig. 5a different construction is shown in WhlCh a second set of spray nozzles Q is located near the upper front portion of the eliminator plates in such rected onto some of te oblique faces of the eliminator lates. The upper frontcorners of the eliminator plates are cut off at q,'as shown in said Fig. 5, so that the spray from from the same is dithe nozzles Q will strike and form down wardly flowing films of water on the intermediate oblique faces of the plates.

A steam radiator R is shown in the air trunk for heating the air delivered to the room, and this heater is automaticallyregulated to produce a desired temperature in the room. by an ordinary thermostat r 10- valve qbf the radiator, for instance, by airoperated means such as employed forregu- 'lating the spray water heater H. This heater for the air can be used or not, as desired.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination of means for supplying air to an inclosu-re, means for supplying .water. to the air for humidifying it, an

eliminator for removing water 'fromthe air, means for supplying water separately to said eliminator, means for controllin the temperature of, the humidified air, an automatic means governed by the humidity in the inclosure for shutting off the water to k eaidlhumidifying means, substantially as set ort 1.

2. The combination of means for supplying an to an inclosure, means for supply 110" cated in the room and controlling the steam ing Water to the air for humidifying it, automatlc means for regulating the temperature of the humldified air supplied to the inclosure relati\-'e to the'temperature existwater to said humidifying means, substaning in the inclosure, a humidistat influenced by the humidity of the air in the inclosure, and means controlled by said humidist-at for decreasing the supply of water to said humidifying means, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of means for supplying air to an inclosure, means for supplying water to the air for humidifying it, automaticmeans for maintaining a definite relation between the temperature of the humidified air and the temperature of the air in the inclosure, a humidistat influenced by the humidity of the air in the inclosure, and means controlled by said liumidistat for shutting 011' the water to the humidit'ying means when a predetermined degree of humidity ilrtlic air of the inclosure is exceeded, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of means for supplying air to an inclosure, means for supplying Water to the air for humidifying it, means for eliminating water from the air, means for supplying water separately to said eliminating means, automatic means for maintaining a definite relation between the temperature of the humidified air and the temperature of the air in the inclosure, and automatic means governedby the humidity of the air in the inclosur-e for shutting off i the Water to said humidifying means when a predetermined degree of humidity inethc air of the inclosure is exceeded, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of means for supplying air to an il'iclosurc, means for supplying water to the air for humidifying it, eliminator plates for removing water and impurities from the air, means independent of said humidifying means for flushing said eliminator plates, means for controlling the temperature of the humidified air, and automatic means governed by the humidity of the air in the inclosure for shutting off the tially asset forth.

6. The combination of means for supplying air to an inclosurc, means for humidi fying the air to be supplied to the inclosure, automatle means for maintaining a predetermined relation between the temperature of the humidified air and the temperature of the air in the inclosure, a humidistat influenced by the humidity of the air in the inclosure, and means controlled by said humidistat for decreasing the humidifying action of the humidifying means when the humidity of'the air in the inclosure is eX cessive, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of means for supplying air to an inclosure, means for humiditying the airto be supplied to the inclosure,' means for separately supplying water for washing the air, automatic means for regulating the temperature of'the humidified air, and auton'iatic means governed by the humidity of the air in the inclosure for stopping the humidifying action of the humidifying means when the humidity of the air in the inclosure is excessive, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of means for supply ing air to an inclosure, automatic means for maintaining substantial-1y a predetermined relation between the dew point temperature of said air and the temperature in said inclosure so as to maintain substantially a predetermined relative humidity in the inclosure regardless of fluctuations in the tempe'ature therein, spaced eliminator plates between which said air flows for removing the free moisture and impurities from the air, and flushing means constructed to discharge water in sheets flowing downwardly crosswise in the spaces between said'eliminator plates for washing the air, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination of a humidifying chamber, means for causing air to fiow through the same, spray nozzles arranged in said chamber to direct their sprays in opposition to the air current, and air baflles at the air entrance to the 'humidifying chamber and in front of said nozzles for distributing the air'in said chamber and preventing the escape of the spray from the chamber, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand, this 6th day of April,

WILLIS H. CARRIER.

lVitnesses: I r

C. W'. PARKER,

C. B. HonNuEeK. 

